I wanted to read this for so long but I just can’t pick it up. I haven’t seen any negative reviews so I would recommend people to read this

“Promise Me Sunshine” is the second Cara Bastone book I’ve read after “Ready Or Not”.

“Promise Me Sunshine” is about grieving nanny Kira who is coping very badly with the death of her best friend Lu. Until one day she goes to work for a new family, a single mom and her daughter, and meets their upstairs neighbor and half-brother/uncle Miles who is also grieving, trying to process the death of his mom, cousin, and dad in rapid succession.

Miles and Lenny help each other come back to life after grief and not so surprisingly fall in love while doing it. The pace of their journey feels realistic, their problems aren’t manufactured, their chemistry is genuine – truly everything I look for in a romance. And Miles is an all time great book boyfriend, someone who deserves a space in the book boyfriend hall of fame.

Obviously the general concept of the book is sad so if a romance centered around grief feels like something you’re not ready for, skip this one. But otherwise if you like a barely steamy slow burn realistic romance I think you’re going to love this one.

4.25⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

This book has officially been added to the list of “unique books that make you think”. Going into this I thought I was getting a traditional romance book, but I was very wrong. There are traditional tropes (forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract) but the story did not follow the typical outline that I had envisioned. The FMC is one of the quirkiest characters I’ve ever read about, but her experience walking through grief was so realistic.

This story follows two people, Lenny and Miles. Both have experienced huge loss and in turn struggle heavily through grief. While there are light-hearted moments throughout, this story is overall a heavier read. It truly is a character driven story. It is about learning how to live again after tragedy and allowing people to step along side you to help.

There were several times throughout this story that I was unsure about how this was going to land for me, but by the end of it all I can say that this was a beautiful story. Is there a lot of plot? No, but it’s not meant to. This book was written for those that have experienced grief or tragedy and find themselves struggling to keep themselves moving in a world that never stops turning.

Oh I love love loved this one!! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for the free eARC <3!

Miles and Lenny have my entire heart! I want to wrap them up and protect them forever. What a beautiful love story but also a relatable life story! I wasn’t sure how heavy the storyline would be around grief but Cara did an outstanding job adding the happy, funny and quirky moments at the right times. I felt every single emotion while reading this book and cannot wait for it to be out in the world. Promise Me Sunshine was one of my most anticipated reads this year and Cara did not disappoint.

Ohhhh I loved it. Such a great story with characters you just wish you could actually meet. The type of love story you really and truly hope people are living because shoot, Miles is really something! Plus Cara Bastone tossing in an Easter egg from Ready or Not was everything! Tried to explain the significance of this and joy it brought me to my husband and he just wasn’t getting it. But truly, I will read anything this author writes, I love her easy, down to earth style, relatable characters, and real life content. Liked this story even more than Ready or Not and I went in saying explicitly that there’s no way that’ll happen.

Promise Me Sunshine is a beautiful and unexpected love story wrapped in the emotions of grief and healing. I’m going to be honest—if I had known that the book centers on grief, I might have hesitated to pick it up, as I’m going through my own journey with loss. It’s an emotional subject, and for anyone in a similar place, this story could be a trigger. But despite that, I’m so glad I gave it a chance. There’s a strange sense of comfort woven throughout the story, even in its most difficult moments. Despite the painful moments, I found comfort in Lenny’s journey as she navigates the loss of her best friend, Lou.

What makes Promise Me Sunshine stand out is how real and raw Lenny’s grief feels. Her emotions come across as authentic, and you feel every step of her journey. Through her pain, we meet Miles—someone who is also grieving, but in his own way. He’s gruff, a bit awkward, and not the kind of person you’d expect to be a source of comfort.

It’s heartfelt, realistic, and surprisingly tender. Their relationship is equal parts funny, heartwarming, and at times, gut-wrenching.

Cara Bastone’s writing strikes the perfect balance between deeply emotional and lighthearted moments. If you're looking for a story that blends grief, healing, and love in an authentic way, Promise Me Sunshine is a must-read.

I recently enjoyed ready or not so I was excited to read her next book. This was such a beautiful book that wrecked me in the best way. I cried so many times during this wonderful story.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

Promise Me Sunshine is an absolute gem! Cara Bastone masterfully weaves a tender, slow-burn (emphasis on slow burn!) romance filled with heart, humor, and deeply relatable characters. The emotional depth and beautifully crafted relationships make this story feel so authentic, and the journey of love and healing is both uplifting and poignant.

In this deeply moving and beautifully written slow-burn romance, Lenny is struggling with the unbearable loss of her best friend when she unexpectedly crosses paths with an intriguing stranger. What starts as an unlikely connection slowly blossoms into something transformative as he helps her find her way back to life, love, and hope.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that lingers in your heart long after you turn the last page. Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is exactly that kind of novel. It’s a deeply moving, beautifully written story about love, loss, and the slow, sometimes painful process of finding joy again.

From the very first page, I was completely invested in Lenny’s journey. She’s a young woman drowning in grief after the loss of her best friend, Lou, and she’s struggling to keep her life from completely unravelling. Avoiding her family, unable to return to the apartment she shared with Lou, and drifting from one temporary nanny job to the next, Lenny is barely surviving rather than living.

Enter Reese, a single mother in need of a babysitter for her daughter, Ainsley. The job seems like the perfect escape, but Lenny doesn’t expect the constant presence of Ainsley’s uncle, Miles—a man who, at first, seems gruff and overly critical. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Miles sees right through Lenny’s carefully constructed façade. He understands grief in a way that most people don’t, and when he offers to help her work through her “live again” list in exchange for her help with Ainsley, an unexpected and profoundly touching connection begins to form between them.

Cara Bastone has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and this book is a perfect example of why. Her characters feel real—flawed, layered, and so emotionally rich that they leap off the page. She masterfully balances the heartache of grief with moments of warmth and humour, making the story feel both deeply poignant and incredibly hopeful.

Lenny and Miles’ relationship unfolds in a way that feels natural and honest, filled with small, quiet moments that gradually build into something beautiful. Their dynamic is raw and tender, and watching them help each other navigate their pain is nothing short of breathtaking.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Loved this book, the raw emotions, the characters and the reality of grief. - without sugarcoating. Another amazing book by this amazing author. Can’t wait for the next one!

After Ready or Not i knew i had to read Bastones next book and it honestly blew me away. I wish i had the words to describe how much i loved this book but I just don’t.

"Promise Me Sunshine" by Cara Bastone is a touching story of grief and healing. Lenny, a young women who is struggling with the loss of her best friend takes on babysitting jobs to cope, She meets Ainsley's grumpy uncle, Miles, who helps her complete her "live again" list.

The characters were beautifully developed and so well written! I loved Lenny's resilience and the slow burn romance was so heartfelt and genuine!

I usually don't like to read books that deal with loss due to health as it's a very difficult subject for me having lost loved ones to cancer - but Cara Bastone wrote this book with such care that I was able to read it and I felt like it helped me with my grief journey as well!

This was an emotional read but still left me feeling hopeful by then end! I really enjoyed it!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House/ The Dial Press for sending me this eARC and a physical copy as well!!

I truly don’t even know where to begin with this review except to say that Cara Bastone really outdid herself with this one. It was so intense and emotional and perfectly written. It’s absolutely an exploration of grief in the rawest form. It’s heavy and light at the same time, hard to read but so full of goodness.

Lenny, was the shining gem of this book. Her journey through grief, seeing how she coped with the greatest loss of her life, and how strong she was throughout it all. She was such a relatable character - a trend I’m noticing with Bastone’s female leads.

Miles was an absolute sweetheart and exactly what Lenny needed. I couldn’t even believe how insightful he was.

Both of the characters were complex and their growth throughout the book was well done. It’s about so much more than the romance, but that too was perfect.

Promise Me Sunshine was truly just so beautifully done. I don’t know what else to say without entering spoiler territory. It’s earned all the praise it has (and will continue to) received. I highly recommend you pick this one up!!

First off thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for letting me read this stunning eARC.

5⭐️ beautiful well deserved stars.
First of all I loved this book, I really enjoyed the characters and the travel through grieving those you’ve lost. I did even cry a few times reading which for me, who loves a good laugh or cry, this did it for me. I loved Lenny and Miles truly. They were both great characters and I love that they aren’t perfect people but it’s believable and real. Lenny finding herself again and making friends, the will to go on was lovely. Also I’m pointing BEAUTIFUL SLOW BURN! Ugh I love a good fleshed out slow burn. This reminded me a bit of The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston, which was arguably my favorite book I read last year so this at the moment is my big 2025 romance love. I truly have relatively no complaints this was just beautiful and I recommend it to all who love a good slow burn with imperfect people. This better be a well loved romance of the year or I’ll start rioting (lovingly). Cara Bastone knocked this outta the park <3


Review published to Goodreads!

This was cute and I really liked the concept. Miles was a great male main character. Our female main character was a little cringey but I found her endearing most of the time. But I hated how long it took for the romance to start. I felt like I barely got to see them together.

It's official! I love Cara Bastone's books! Last year I read and loved Ready or Not, so I was super excited to get an ARC of Promise Me Sunshine. Although I would definitely place this in the romance category, she also includes so much more. In Promise Me Sunshine, Lenny, the main character is dealing with intense grief after the loss of her best friend. She takes a temporary nannying job for the adorable Ainsley and suddenly Ainsley's grumpy uncle Miles is always hanging around. He offers to help Lenny complete the tasks on her "live again" checklist and in return she helps him build a relationship with Ainsley and her mom. One piece of advice Mile's offers that I'm planning to put into practice when things are tough is "Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery." I loved the characters, and I love that Cara Bastone can make me both laugh and can write about serious topics so well. This is a slow burn romance with a big focus on dealing with grief, so know that going in. 4+ stars. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

I just completed an arc of Cara Bastone's "Promise Me Sunshine" through Random House Publishing Group.

I started reading this book late at night, and only put it down to get a few hours of sleep. After finishing, I'm emotionally gutted, which, could be attributable to the few hours of sleep, but is more likely caused by the journey through Lenny's grief that Bastone takes us through.

I have previously read several Cara Bastone books and found them fun and entertaining, but they didn't have the same emotional weight that this book carries. I should have known going in, given the premise of this title is the FMC working through the grief of losing her best friend/soul mate. I say "working through", but during the first third of this book, that really isn't the case. Lenny is absolutely wrecked by her grief in a way that someone could only understand if they've lost someone close to them. She is able to compartmentalize in long enough increments to work as a nanny PRN. Through this gig work, she meets Miles, who is intimately familiar with grief and recognizes Lenny's suffering. He essentially becomes Lenny's grief guide and as the MMC, a relationship develops. This is a true romance book with a HEA and some spice, but I think the primary plot is Lenny's voyage from being broken to someone who can again experience hope and joy. While most romance novels leave me feeling like I've just had a glass of champagne, this one leaves me feeling like I'm under a weighted blanket.

As a character, and despite her grief, Lenny is a chaotic ray of sunshine. Bastone makes you feel like you know Lenny as that one eccentric friend and have and love if she could only wade through her depression and emerge on the other side. Miles is broody, misunderstood, but a slow and steady sure bet. He is the perfect ying to Lenny's yang.

I think this is Cara Bastone's best work yet, despite really enjoying "Ready or Not." I appreciate the chance to read the arc and look forward to others' reactions.

Romance of the year, book of the year, my entire personality. Inhaled this sucker in less than 48 hours and I loved EVERY MINUTE. This journey through the darkest corners of grief was the most beautiful and lovely trip I’ve been on. I hesitate with the “boy saves girl” trope but this book DID IT RIGHT. Miles was exactly what a friend should be and I hope I can be that for my people for ever more.

This book releases March 4, and you all are about to be SO BLESSED when it does. 💗💗💗💗💗💗

3 ⭐️ Cute story and written well but the romance didn’t feel special or anything. An easy & sad read about grief.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!